Pump head of air pump

Abstract

A pump head of an air pump includes a head including an outer body, a handle, and an end cap. The outer body includes a compartment extending therein. The handle is connected to a first end of the outer body. The end cap is connected to a second end of the outer body. A retaining device is received by the compartment and includes a seat actuated by the handle. An air seal ring is received by the compartment and is selectively compressed by the seat. The seat includes a cavity extending therein, at least one slot extending radially from the cavity and through the seat, and at least one retaining arm extending between two sides of the at least one slot and resiliently swingable. The air seal ring has an outer periphery section curved radially inwardly with respect to other periphery sections along a longitudinal length thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pump head of an air pump comprising:
 a head including an outer body, a handle, and an end cap, wherein the outer body includes a compartment extending therein, wherein the handle is connected to a first end of the outer body, and wherein the end cap is connected to a second end of the outer body; 
 a valve insert disposed in the head; 
 a retaining device received by the compartment and including a seat movable in the compartment and actuated by the handle, wherein the seat includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end of the seat, with the first and second ends of the seat located intermediate the first and second ends of the outer body, wherein the seat includes a cavity extending therein, at least one slot extending radially from the cavity and through the seat and extending axially from a first side spaced from the first end of the seat and a second side spaced from the second end of the seat, wherein the second side is located intermediate the first side and the end cap and at least one retaining arm configured to retain the valve insert and extending axially between the first and second sides of the at least one slot and resiliently swingable, wherein the at least one retaining arm and the seat are made in one piece, wherein the at least one retaining arm has a first end integrated with the first side of the at least one slot and a second end adjacent to, but not abutting, the second side of the at least one slot, with the second end of the at least one retaining arm forming a retaining lug, with the retaining lug moveable between a retracted position out of the cavity and an extended position into the cavity, wherein the cavity has a first end adjacent to the first end of the seat and a second end adjacent to the end cap and extending through the second end of the seat and has a first section extending axially from the first end and terminating at the retaining lug and a second section extending axially from the first section to the second end of the seat, with the second section intermediate the end cap and the first section, wherein the valve insert is received by the cavity, is movably coupled to the seat and is prevented from moving toward the end cap, and wherein the valve insert has an abutment kept within the first section of the cavity and prevented from moving out of the first section of the cavity of the seat by the retaining lug of the at least one retaining arm abutting with the abutment while in the extended position; and 
 an air seal ring received by the compartment and selectively compressed by the seat, and wherein the air seal ring has an outer periphery section curved radially inwardly with respect to other periphery sections along a longitudinal length thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The pump head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the air seal ring has a concave outer periphery and includes a middle portion not abutting the compartment. 
     
     
       3. The pump head as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the valve insert is biasedly connected to the seat; with a biasing member including a first end acting on the seat and a second end acting on the valve insert. 
     
     
       4. The pump head as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the seat includes a protrusion in the cavity, wherein the biasing member includes a hole, and wherein the protrusion is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
       5. The pump head as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the compartment defines a first section and a second section larger than the first section of the compartment in cross-section, wherein the compartment includes a middle periphery which extends radially outwardly from a first periphery delimiting the first section of the compartment to a second periphery delimiting the second section of the compartment and which defines a shoulder, and wherein the seat is movable between a retracted position in which the second periphery abuts the retaining lug radially to a forward position in which the first periphery abuts the retaining lug radially. 
     
     
       6. The pump head as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the handle defines a cam, wherein the seat is actuated by the cam, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the outer body and is pivotal between a first position in which the seat is in the forward position and the air seal ring is compressed and a second position in which the seat is in the retracted position and the air seal ring is uncompressed, and wherein the handle resiliently pivots from the second position to the first position via the air seal ring. 
     
     
       7. The pump head as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one slot includes two slots and the at least one retaining arm includes two retaining arms, wherein the valve insert has a first width, wherein the seat in the retracted position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a second width, which is greater than the first width, wherein the seat in the forward position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a third width, which is smaller than the first width, and wherein the two retaining arms swing radially toward the valve insert when the seat moves from the retracted position to the forward position. 
     
     
       8. The pump head as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the air seal ring includes a through hole, and wherein the valve insert includes an end inserted into the through hole. 
     
     
       9. The pump head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining arm has the second end defining a free end, wherein the at least one slot includes two opposite lateral sides interconnecting to and extending between the first and second sides thereof, and wherein the at least one retaining arm does not abut the two lateral sides. 
     
     
       10. The pump head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve insert is biasedly connected to the seat, with a biasing member including a first end acting on the seat and a second end acting on the valve insert. 
     
     
       11. The pump head as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the seat includes a protrusion in the cavity, wherein the biasing member includes a hole, and wherein the protrusion is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
       12. The pump head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the compartment defines a first section and a second section larger than the first section in cross-section, wherein the compartment includes a middle periphery which extends radially outwardly from a first periphery delimiting the first section of the compartment to a second periphery delimiting the second section of the compartment and which defines a shoulder, and wherein the seat is movable between a retracted position in which the second periphery abuts the retaining lug radially to a forward position in which the first periphery abuts the retaining lug radially. 
     
     
       13. The pump head as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the handle defines a cam, wherein the seat is actuated by the cam, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the outer body and is pivotal between a first position in which the seat is in the forward position and the air seal ring is compressed and a second position in which the seat is in the retracted position and the air seal ring is uncompressed, and wherein the handle resiliently pivots from the second position to the first position via the air seal ring. 
     
     
       14. The pump head as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one slot includes two slots and the at least one retaining arm includes two retaining arms, wherein the valve insert has a first width, wherein the seat in the retracted position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a second width, which is greater than the first width, wherein the seat in the forward position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a third width, which is smaller than the first width, and wherein the two retaining arms swing radially toward the valve insert when the seat moves from the retracted position to the forward position. 
     
     
       15. The pump head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the air seal ring includes a through hole, and wherein the valve insert includes an end inserted into the through hole. 
     
     
       16. A pump head of an air pump comprising:
 a head including an outer body, a handle, and an end cap, wherein the outer body includes a compartment extending therein, wherein the handle is connected to a first end of the outer body, and wherein the end cap is connected to a second end of the outer body; 
 a retaining device received by the compartment and including a seat movable in the compartment and actuated by the handle, wherein the seat includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end of the seat, with the first and second ends of the seat located intermediate the first and second ends of the outer body, wherein the seat includes a cavity extending therein, at least one slot extending radially from the cavity and through the seat and extending axially from a first side spaced from the first end of the seat and a second side spaced from the second end of the seat, and at least one retaining arm extending axially between the first and second sides of the at least one slot and resiliently swingable, and wherein the at least one retaining arm has a first end fixed to the first side of the at least one slot and a second end adjacent to, but not abutting the second side of the at least one slot, with the first and second ends of the at least one retaining arm located intermediate the first and second sides of the at least one slot; 
 an air seal ring received by the compartment and selectively compressed by the seat, and wherein the air seal ring has an outer periphery section curved radially inwardly with respect to other periphery sections along a longitudinal length thereof; 
 a valve insert disposed in the head, wherein the valve insert is movably restrained to the seat by the at least one retaining arm, wherein the valve insert is received by the cavity, and wherein the valve insert is biasedly connected to the seat; and 
 a biasing member including a first end acting on the seat and a second end acting on the valve insert; 
 wherein the compartment defines a first section and a second section larger than the first section in cross-section, wherein the compartment includes a middle periphery which extends radially outwardly from a first periphery delimiting the first section to a second periphery delimiting the second section and which defines a shoulder, wherein the at least one retaining arm includes a retaining lug, and wherein the seat is movable between a retracted position in which the second periphery abuts the retaining lug radially to a forward position in which the first periphery abuts the retaining lug radially; and 
 wherein the handle defines a cam, wherein the seat is actuated by the cam, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the outer body and is pivotal between a first position in which the seat is in the forward position and the air seal ring is compressed and a second position in which the seat is in the retracted position and the air seal ring is uncompressed, and wherein the handle resiliently pivots from the second position to the first position via the air seal ring; and 
 wherein the at least one slot includes two slots and the at least one retaining arm includes two retaining arms, wherein the valve insert has a first width, wherein the seat in the retracted position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a second width, which is greater than the first width, wherein the seat in the forward position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a third width, which is smaller than the first width, and wherein the two retaining arms swing radially toward the valve insert when the seat moves from the retracted position to the forward position; and 
 wherein the valve insert includes a middle portion forming a first ridge and an end portion forming a second ridge, wherein the first width measures the first ridge, and wherein the second ridge has a width greater than the second width. 
 
     
     
       17. A pump head of an air pump comprising:
 a head including an outer body, a handle, and an end cap, wherein the outer body includes a compartment extending therein, wherein the handle is connected to a first end of the outer body, and wherein the end cap is connected to a second end of the outer body; 
 a retaining device received by the compartment and including a seat movable in the compartment and actuated by the handle, wherein the seat includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end of the seat, with the first and second ends of the seat located intermediate the first and second ends of the outer body, wherein the seat includes a cavity extending therein, at least one slot extending radially from the cavity and through the seat and extending axially from a first side spaced from the first end of the seat and a second side spaced from the second end of the seat, and at least one retaining arm extending axially between the first and second sides of the at least one slot and resiliently swingable, and wherein the at least one retaining arm has a first end fixed to the first side of the at least one slot and a second end adjacent to, but not abutting the second side of the at least one slot, with the first and second ends of the at least one retaining arm located intermediate the first and second sides of the at least one slot; 
 an air seal ring received by the compartment and selectively compressed by the seat, and wherein the air seal ring has an outer periphery section curved radially inwardly with respect to other periphery sections along a longitudinal length thereof; 
 a valve insert disposed in the head, wherein the valve insert is movably restrained to the seat by the at least one retaining arm, wherein the valve insert is received by the cavity, and wherein the valve insert is biasedly connected to the seat; and 
 a biasing member including a first end acting on the seat and a second end acting on the valve insert; 
 wherein the compartment defines a first section and a second section larger than the first section in cross-section, wherein the compartment includes a middle periphery which extends radially outwardly from a first periphery delimiting the first section to a second periphery delimiting the second section and which defines a shoulder, wherein the at least one retaining arm includes a retaining lug, and wherein the seat is movable between a retracted position in which the second periphery abuts the retaining lug radially to a forward position in which the first periphery abuts the retaining lug radially; and 
 wherein the handle defines a cam, wherein the seat is actuated by the cam, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the outer body and is pivotal between a first position in which the seat is in the forward position and the air seal ring is compressed and a second position in which the seat is in the retracted position and the air seal ring is uncompressed, and wherein the handle resiliently pivots from the second position to the first position via the air seal ring; 
 wherein the at least one slot includes two slots and the at least one retaining arm includes two retaining arms, wherein the valve insert has a first width, wherein the seat in the retracted position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a second width, which is greater than the first width, wherein the seat in the forward position includes the retaining lugs of the two retaining arms disposed separately at a third width, which is smaller than the first width, and wherein the two retaining arms swing radially toward the valve insert when the seat moves from the retracted position to the forward position; and 
 wherein the valve insert includes a middle portion forming a first ridge and an end portion forming a second ridge, wherein the first width measures the first ridge, and wherein the second ridge has a width greater than the second width.